The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-06-09

formations That Have been Enected by
the Never-snding Push Of Trade.
New York IL ct all times interesting.
No city in the world has 80 magnificent |
an approach. The bay and hsrbor Of
New York are monumental for their con.
veniences, their safety and their beauty.
Across them in these days Of intense heat
sweep refreshing breezes and healthful
winds. We land, say ct South Ferry,
and are confronted Immediately by the
recently-completed stone barge-house,
erected by the government for the con-
venience Of the custom-house Inspectors.
To the left Of It stands Castle Garden,
which for many years has been utilized
by the commissioners Of emigration as .
landing place for immigrants, assisted
and otherwise.
There is no need to 60 back to the
days Of my boyhood when Grisi, Mario,
Julian and Herr Kenig, the king Of cor.
netists, to whom Levy is just this side
of twin brother, were in their prime;
nor yet further back when the old-time
castle was separated from the island by
. rushing, streaming, tumultuous tide,
and when It was garrisoned by troops of
regulars, and made formidable by the
completest possible armament known to
the early days Of this century. It forms
now part and parcel of the Battery, and
upon an area which in early days was
fringed upon the north by stately resi-
dences, the handsomest in the New York
of olden time. There our fathers and
forefathers walked and talked, made love
and fought, inhaled the salt breeze from
the billowy waves that broke upon the
sandy beach, and found, after days of
laborious industry, "way uptown" as far
as John, Cortland and Fulton streets, the
restful calm and peaceful repose Of the
early evening hour.
To-day large part Of It Is occupied
by the hideous IL" road structure, upon
which are depots for cars, machine shops,
signal towers, places for linemen and
watchmen, resting benches for con-
ductors and brakemen and enormous de-
pots or platforms for the convenience of
the scores Of thousands of passengers
who hurry, scurry, and skedaddle up and
down and all around from six o'clock in
the morning until long past midnight
The Battery Of old is gone. The Battery
of to-day is loafing place for
tramps; series of beats for pickpockets,
thieves and loafers of every description; |;
the wonderland of the freshly-arrived
emigrants, and harvest field for the rum
ners and bloodsuckers who lie in wait
for them. Its magnificent residences are
also things 6 . the past to large extent. A
few Of thei remain, used by sixth-rate
clearinghouse keepers, but the sites Of
nearly all are occupied by gin mills,
warehouses, steamship offices, with now
and then doctors shop. On the Bat.
terry corner formerly stood the Wash.
ington House, famed in local history as
the mansion where at one time the
father of his country had his headquar.
ters. OF late years 1t was third-clasa
hotel. Some time ago Cyrus W. Field
purchased it, pulled 1t down, and has
now built in its place one OF the most re.
markable buildings in this city, which ID
rapidly becoming noted for remarkable
buildings.
Between Battery corner and White
hall street, which leads directly to South
| once occupied by the elite of the city.
Each is now rented to foreign steam
ship company, and in some of them
foreign consulates have their official
habitation. On the other side of White.
hall street Is about finished the largest
edifice In the city devoted to mercantile
purposes. 1t belongs to the Produce
Exchange and has been thrown open to
that noisy and money-making body.
Immediately in front of the line Of
residences referred to is the old-time
Bowling Green. When was boy there
was q leaden statue of Liberty there
placed upon Q pedestal formerly graced
by full-length statue of Queen Anne OF
George III, don't know which. Inever
saw It, and have forgotten whether II
was the King or the Queen. In one Of
the stormy periods 1t was yanked from
its pedestal by exuberant patriots, and
after battle or 90, when the war of the
Revolution was decided In favor Of the
colonists, Liberty statue was erected In
Its place. There are, % In the Battery
few benches In this old-fashioned spot
As I passed It to-day every seat was
occupied by Q male or female, and every
occupant was fast asleep. The trees are
graciously permitted to grow there
though precisely why the hand of the icon.
oclast did not long since swing the az
to fell them is . conundrum which mod.
ern writer's will find 1t difficult to an.
swer. Not . tree can be found between
that spot and the City Hall Park, with
the exception Of those which ornament
the graveyard and shelter the tombs in
the inclosure belonging to Trinity
Church at the head Of Wall street.
Here we are ct St. Pauls Church, the
head Of Fulton street, Immediately oppo
site the Herald Office and in the triangle
bounded by the postofice, the Aston
House and . row Of insignifcant build
ings at the corner Of Park Row and Ann
street. What IL there, with the exception
Of st. Psul's Church, to remind Q man
over fifty years Of age Of his boyish play.
ground Not . thing. And thousands
Of US who are not up to o semi-centena
rian point find nothing but the church
and the Astor House. The old-time cor
ner, now occupied by the Hsrald building
was in our early days utilized by Bar
NUNS Museum, where Nn. Stoves
"Uncle Toms Cabin" efloresced with
vest pecuniary benefit to the great show,
| n. n T. T. lxf-